Monday, February 27
Start with me
Scripture: Romans 2
Romans 2:1 You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things.
Observation
Paul is constructing his argument of universal sinfulness. The Jews who have the law sin and break it. The Gentiles who don’t have the law sin without it.
In this verse, he reminds everyone that when we judge, we condemn ourselves because we do the same things. We are sinners too. Paul echoes the teaching of Jesus:
Matthew 7:1–5 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
3 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”
Where does that speck of sawdust in my brother’s eye come from? Maybe from the plank in my eye! We are guilty of the very things we judge in others. The old proverb is true: When you point a finger at someone else, three are pointing back at you.
Application
I’ve noticed that when something happens, people create a narrative about it that favors them. What’s wrong with them? Oh wait…I do the same thing.
I’ve also noticed that people make judgments about others based on very little information and even that little information is biased and slanted. What’s wrong with them? Oh wait…I do the same thing.
I’ve also noticed that people get stuck in these narratives and judgments and seem unable to change. What’s wrong with them? Oh wait…I do the same thing.
The older I get, the more I question my own judgments. And yet, I’m still judgmental. I still want to be right…all the time! Are some things right and others wrong? Clearly. But the place to start is in me, not in others. Take that plank out of my own eye. Start with me.
Prayer: Lord, I love you. I try not to be judgmental, but still fail. Help me every time I judge others to turn that on myself and see my own planks.